This page covers 6 recalls, 78 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2014 Toyota Prius V.
41 mpg combined
5.7 L/100km
Midsize Station Wagons
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Brake system complaints dominate what owners report for the 2014 Prius V, accounting for well over a third of all filings. The most consistent pattern involves the brake booster and its pump assembly, owners describe the brake pedal becoming unusually stiff or hard to press, sometimes accompanied by a cluster of warning lights illuminating at once, including brake, traction control, and battery indicators. Several owners report the problem surfacing at highway speeds, where reduced stopping ability is particularly concerning. Some describe the failure happening after 70,000 to 100,000 miles. Engine and fuel/propulsion complaints are the next most reported, with a handful of owners describing the vehicle stalling on the highway, occasionally more than once, without a clear cause identified during dealer diagnosis. The stalling reports are notably fewer in number than the brake complaints, but the pattern of repeat occurrences on the highway shows up across more than one filing.
78
Total Complaints
5
Crash-Related
4
Fire-Related
1
With Injuries
By System
The 2014 Toyota Prius V has 6 recalls, the most serious being multiple inverter defects that can cause the hybrid system to shut down without warning, stalling the vehicle while driving and raising the risk of a crash.
Recalls 1 through 4 all center on the hybrid inverter: one involves a component that overheats and forces the car into a reduced-power limp mode, while the others involve excessive voltage that can cause a full hybrid system shutdown and loss of drive power. Prior repair attempts did not fully resolve these issues, which is why multiple separate campaigns exist for the same underlying problem.
The remaining recalls affect the passenger seat sensor that determines whether the front airbag should activate. If the sensor is calibrated incorrectly, the passenger airbag may not deploy in a crash, leaving that occupant without that layer of protection.
At a glance
What can fail
The Intelligent Power Module in the hybrid drive system can become damaged during certain driving conditions, causing warning lights and the hybrid system to shut down, which may result in loss of power to the wheels.
What the fix does
Toyota will mail you instructions to visit a dealer, where technicians will update the hybrid system software.
We may earn a commission for purchases made through these links.
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Excessive voltage in the inverter's power module may cause the hybrid system to shut down unexpectedly, stalling the vehicle while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the hybrid system software. If the inverter failed, they'll repair or replace it first. All work is free.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A voltage problem in the inverter's Intelligent Power Module may cause the hybrid system to shut down unexpectedly, stalling the vehicle while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the motor/generator control and hybrid control software at no cost to restore proper system function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A component in the hybrid inverter assembly may overheat, reducing hybrid system power output. This limits driving distance and may cause the hybrid system to shut down while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the motor/generator control ECU and hybrid control ECU software at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger seat air bag system's sensor may be improperly calibrated, causing the passenger air bag to fail to deploy during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will re-calibrate the passenger air bag sensor system at no cost to restore proper air bag deployment.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger seat's occupant detection system was incorrectly calibrated during manufacturing, which may prevent the airbag from deploying in a crash when it should.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the occupant classification system to correct the calibration.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
